Celtics Dismissed Tatum Offers Before Sending Brown to 76ers for George, Picks
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Boston — The Boston Celtics rejected recent trade inquiries for Jayson Tatum before agreeing to move Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in a package centered on Paul George and multiple draft selections, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday on “Get Up.”
Charania said team leadership concluded this offseason that the long-running Tatum-Brown partnership would no longer deliver a championship. While other clubs sought Tatum, Boston’s front office “shut those down completely,” he noted. Interest in Brown, however, was welcomed and had been explored “for quite some time.”
Boston previously dangled Brown in a 2022 proposal for Kevin Durant and, more recently, in talks with Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo. After considering several options, the Celtics settled on Philadelphia’s offer of George, two first-round picks (one potentially converting to a swap) and two second-rounders. Initial demands for four or five firsts drew no takers, leading Boston to lower its price.
Despite never requesting a trade, Brown was reportedly frustrated by repeated inclusion in negotiations. An extension worth two years and $145 million could have quelled tension when he becomes eligible later this month, but team officials showed no inclination to offer it, according to Charania.
The 76ers capitalized on the situation. League observers had expected Philadelphia to attach assets merely to unload George’s remaining two-year, $110.7 million contract. Instead, new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey secured the 29-year-old five-time All-Star after persistent talks that outlasted rival suitors.
The deal can be formalized Monday, once the NBA’s July moratorium ends.
Meanwhile, Tatum is projected to enter the 2026-27 campaign fully recovered from Achilles surgery. In 16 games after returning last season, he averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting a career-low 41.1 percent. The forward has four years and roughly $260 million remaining on his super-max contract.
Source: Hoops Rumors
